Mackay is trying to boost his squad following recent injuries to Andrew Taylor, Ben Turner and Aron Gunnarsson.

They join a number of other senior players on the sidelines including Craig Bellamy and Tommy Smith, and the Bluebirds chief revealed he has had numerous approaches rejected by a number of top-flight clubs.

"We have spoken to a couple of Premiership clubs already and unfortunately been knocked back for a couple of players," Mackay told BBC Sport.

"Clubs have their own situation with players - with the Capital One Cup, or being short of players and being exposed due to injuries - and cannot move them.

"We will continue to look to see if we can get some cover for the next month."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.